INSIGHTS
Columns
Opinion columns on Utah politics and policy by the Utah Capitol Partners team, as published in the Deseret News.
Lessons from the midterm elections in Utah
With a dozen Republican legislators in tight races and the supermajority in question, Renae and Frank unpack the voter frustration behind the results, what Justice Pohlman’s retention vote signals, and why Amendment B went down.
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The strangeness of the 2026 midterms
Federal election monitors, a fight over Utah’s voter records, unusually personal attack ads and a record-setting campaign over Amendment B: a look at what makes this cycle so unusual.
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Utah’s hottest midterm races to watch — what you need to know
From the congressional districts to swing seats in the Legislature, a race-by-race guide to the Utah contests worth watching, and how unaffiliated voters and national sentiment could tip them.
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The unpredictability of predicting politics
History favors the party out of power, but polls have missed before. Renae and Frank weigh how much to trust the forecasts and which Utah legislative districts could actually change hands.
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The politics of gambling — a risky bet
Prediction markets are testing Utah’s constitutional ban on gambling. The column looks at how election betting could distort campaigns and where the next push for gambling in Utah may come from.
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Is it a blue wave or a ripple?
Voters are frustrated with both parties. Renae and Frank debate whether that adds up to a Democratic wave or something smaller, and whether disillusionment could open the door to new parties.
Read the column on Deseret NewsWhy Utah’s lieutenant governor is defying the federal government on voter data
Lt. Gov. Deidre Henderson’s refusal to hand over Utah’s private voter records raises questions of privacy, federalism and election administration, and could shape her political future.
Read the column on Deseret NewsPoliticians, please respond to AI. Now.
Voters across the spectrum are uneasy about artificial intelligence and data centers. Renae and Frank agree lawmakers must act, but disagree on whether the answer is regulation or speed.
Read the column on Deseret NewsWill the November elections be Déjà Vu?
Gas prices, inflation, data centers and two constitutional amendments are setting the agenda. A preview of the national trends and the Utah races that could make 2026 look a lot like 2022.
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